What Lameness Is 89 
same treatment is good for draft horses, when the 
feet have been injured on pavements. It will in most 
cases give relief and often effect permanent recovery. 
DIAGNOSING LAMENESS 
Lameness is a defect in the natural gait of an 
animal. In some eases there is a normal “hitch” in 
the gait. Such a peculiarity is not easily distinguished 
from true lameness, especially when the horse is pushed 
to the limit of his speed in trotting. It is an idio- 
sinerasy and does not need treating. 
Lameness may be due to some deformity which, 
though it causes a noticeable limp, may occasion the 
animal no pain and but little inconvenience in travel- 
ing. Most cases of lameness, however, are due to some 
disease or iujury that not only interferes with the 
locomotion, but causes the animal suffering. 
Lameness is at times difficult to locate; therefore it 
is not easy to give directions for distinguishing the 
various lamenesses of animals. Experts often seem to 
diagnose cases of lameness intuitively, and are some- 
times unable to tell why the disease is located in a 
certain spot. Close and careful observation of the form 
and movements of the legs, both in health and in dis- 
ease, are essential to accuracy in diagnosis. 
Most cases of lameness in horses occur in the front 
legs. These bear one-third more weight than the 
hind legs, and in ordinary traveling they are lifted 
higher and brought down with greater foree; hence, 
their liability to injury is inereased. 
